James has gone from climbing near his family home in the Peak District of England to exploring walls and mountains in exotic locations around the globe everywhere from Tazmania to Thailand. His first venture into rock climbing came at the age of 15 and it was soon clear that he was blessed with a naturally elegant climbing style. However, he also had the dedication and commitment to refine and develop that talent and by the age of 19 he was already one of the UK’s brightest climbing stars. James has been scouring the planet for more demanding challenges ever since.
These brands support James
News posts and Articles featuring James
James Pearson and Caroline Ciavaldini are hosting a live webinar on YouTube tonight at 7 p.m. UK time on their Once Upon a Climb Channel. The webinar, titled 'An Adventure State of Mind', will discuss the mindset required to explore and...
In 2008, James Pearson made the first ascent of The Walk of Life Dyer's Lookout on the North Devon Coast. The route climbs a direct start to Ian Vickers' Dyer Straits (E8 6c) which was protected by pegs. At the time Pearson graded the route E12...
Our Friday Night Video this week is a trip to Japan to climb the country's highest waterfall: Shomyo Falls in Toyama. Sawanobori is the Japanese art of climbing a mountain river to its source, involving scrambling up gullies, ravines and...
On Wednesday 20th March, UKC hosted The North Face Speaker Series 'Sawanobori' film launch,...
In November 2017, James Pearson made the first ascent of Power Ranger 5.14 R at Sunset Rocks, Chattanooga, TN. A video has...
James Pearson has made the first ascent of a run-out 8c trad line at Sunset Rocks, Chattanooga, TN, which he...
Back in May, we reported that James Pearson had made the first ascent of an impressive E10 7a crack line at Annot, in Provence....
Reviews from the UKC editorial team
In a campaign that challenges us to "Defy the past: Wear the future" The North Face's FUTURELIGHT has been heralded as a revolutionary new waterproof/breathable technology. Very much in the present, Rebecca Ting tests the Summit Series L5 LT FU...
What's the ideal shell for Scottish winter climbing and gnarly hill walks? A beefy and protective one! Here we review tough technical jackets from 12 leading manufacturers.
The first major trade show of the new decade brought the world's outdoor industry to Munich in an annual pageant of product fondling and hobnobbing. Here are some of our highlights...
In this group test we compare nine pairs of performance shoes with a women's / low volume fit. How did they all do...?
Whether you're approaching a mountain crag or out on a scramble or via ferrata, an approach shoe will be lighter and more nimble than a boot,...
John McKenna tries this combination of a light shell jacket and softshell trousers...
More than just a trail running shoe, the Kaptiva can cope with most of what the UK hills can throw at it, says Bridget Collier.
Announcements direct from manufacturers
As we approach the time of year where we are looking around to check out all the new gear coming out for SS21 we are faced with the realisation that this year will be slightly different. No international trade shows or brand sales meeti...
With a rich history of climbing, the Tigray region of Ethiopia has always provided an incredible opportunity to discover another world. Priests and worshippers have scaled rock towers and cliffs since as far back as the 4th Century, creating...
La Sportiva have two new shoes arriving for SS'20: the Solution Comp and the Theory. Extreme sensitivity combined with high dynamism allows the Theory to have unprecedented pedidextarity and reactivity on holds. The Solution Comp is a softer and...
Hardknott Forest is a 600 hectare conifer plantation in the upper reaches of the Duddon valley in the Lake District. It was...
The Jackal is a mountain running shoe dedicated to off-road running over ultra distances
New in at Outside, check out the latest tiny cams from Wild Country; a refined piece of gear...
We spent earlier this week catching up with brands at the big winter gearfest: ISPO. Despite the fact the show was quieter than...
